Manager ahead of Betfred
Thursday, 13th Jul 2017Manager Allan Johnston looked forward to the Betfred Cup matches at East End Park
Manager Allan Johnston is somewhat relieved that the schedule was kind enough to avoid lengthy journeys north to Moray and Aberdeenshire. He told the website:-
"I am delighted that we got home ties against Elgin City and Peterhead because they are big journeys. There are no easy games especially at the start of the season. We know that they will make it difficult and come and have a right good go. The pressure is on us to try and win the game when it is still early on in the season.
"Hopefully we can get out of the group, it won`t be easy but we have a good opportunity.
"I can`t recall ever coming across Elgin before in my career but obviously I know Jim Weir from my time at Hearts when I was a youngster coming through.
"When I was a young player coming through into the team at Hearts, Jim was always good with all the younger players. I imagine how that is now he has gone into management. He can relate to youngsters and improve them. I always remember that was how he helped us.
"He has done a really good job wherever he has been. He has been at a few clubs, has always turned them round and done well. I`m sure he will have them well organised and desperate to come here and cause an upset.
"We know Peterhead well from our time in League One. We found them hard to beat, physical with good players too. We know what to expect and for it not to be easy. Jim McInally`s teams are always fired up and when you are up against a striker like Rory McAllister upfront who can score goals then you are always in a game.
"We are still building up for what will be our priority this season, the league. We want to improve on what we did last year, we want to try and get promotion, that has to be the target. It will be difficult because there are probably five or six teams setting the same sort of targets. I don`t think that there are going to be any easy games in the league, it is going to be very competitive."
Looking further ahead to the trip to Methil on Tuesday the manager added:-
"Also in this section will be East Fife. They will get a lift from Darren Young coming in and the players there with the `Dunfermline Connection` will raise their game."
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